Navy Lt Billy Moseley

Bring a gun to a knife fight: When faced with dismissal on a charge of misconduct because he refused to get a COVID shot, Navy Lieutenant Billy Moseley took his case before a Navy administrative separation board, and won a unanimous victory.

Anyone who has been in the Navy for at least six years is entitled to call for a separation board if threatened with dismissal. The board is made up of three Navy officers, and its decision is binding.

Younts [Moseley’s lawyer] argued at the board hearing that the mandate for the experimental COVID vaccines was not a lawful order since the military has not made fully FDA-approved versions of the vaccines available to military members.

The military defense attorney told Just the News that the attorneys for the Navy agreed with him that there are no FDA-approved vaccines available, only interchangeable vaccines. Younts added that if there are no FDA-approved vaccines available, then the president would have to authorize the experimental shots that are currently available, which hasn’t happened.

On Friday, the board voted 3-0 that Moseley’s failure to follow the COVID vaccine order did not count as misconduct and that he should remain in the Navy. Younts said that the board members weren’t convinced that the vaccine order was lawful.

According to the press release [pdf] from Younts,

LT Moseley opposes the vaccine for religious reasons and could have submitted a religious accommodation request, however when he learned that the Navy and the other services intended to implement a blanket denial policy, he began to prayerfully consider other options. After consulting with legal and medical experts, he became convinced that as an officer he had an obligation to take a stand against the unlawful order and be a voice for thousands of enlisted Sailors. LT Moseley risked his twenty-two-year career and his military retirement because of his faith and his commitment to his oath of office as a military leader.

In other words, Moseley took a principled but very risky stand, taking a chance he could lose his pension if he had lost. He also took that principled stand though he had other less risky options available. For him, doing the right thing was really his only option, no matter the cost. We need more brave Americans like Moseley.

Based on Moseley’s victory here, no one in the Navy can be dismissed for refusing the jab. All they need do is call for a separation board and make this same case.

Moseley’s case also illustrates the utter immorality of requiring anyone to get a COVID shot against their will. All versions remain experimental — whose use even President Biden has not authorized — with ample evidence that they are largely ineffective while carrying some risk of adverse effects. Under those conditions, “My body, my choice!” should absolutely rule.